Hybrid tea rose plant named `Jacmem`

ABSTRACT

A rose plant of the hybrid tea class, characterized by the unique combination of its novel flower color; its dark green, glossy, powdery mildew resistant foliage; its long, strong stems; its excellent petal substance, and its heavily appendaged sepals.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of roseplant of the hybrid tea class which was originated by me by crossing thevariety MERko, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,724, with the variety JACblem, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 4,847.

The primary objective of this breeding was to produce a new rose varietyhaving the excellent petal substance, long vase life, and goodcut-flower production of MERko combined with the longer stems, dark,glossy foliage, and powdery mildew resistance of JACblem. It was hopedflower color would fall between orange and yellow, the colors of the twoparents. This objective was substantially achieved, along with otherdesirable improvements, as evidenced by the following unique combinationof characteristics that are outstanding in the new variety and thatdistinguish it from its parents, as well as from all other varieties ofwhich I am aware:

1. Excellent petal substance;

2. Long, strong stems;

3. Good mildew resistance;

4. Novel flower color;

5. Glossy, dark green foliage; and

6. Heavily bearded sepals.

Asexual reproduction of this new variety by budding, as performed atWasco, Calif., shows that the foregoing characteristics and all otherfeatures and distinctions come true to form and are established andtransmitted through succeeding propagations.

The accompanying illustration shows typical specimens of the vegetativegrowth and flowers of this new variety in different stages ofdevelopment, depicted in color as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character.

The following is a detailed description of my new rose cultivar withcolor descriptions using terminology in accordance with The RoyalHorticultural Society (London) Colour Chart, except where ordinarydictionary significance of color is indicated.

Parentage:

Seed parent.--MERko, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,724.

Pollen parent.--JACblem, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,847.

Classification:

Botanical.--Rosa hybrida.

Commercial.--Hybrid tea.

FLOWER

Observations made from specimens grown in a greenhouse environment atSomis, Calif., in January 1994 through January 1995.

Blooming habit: Continuous.

Bud:

Size.--11/2 inches long when the petals start to unfurl.

Form.--The bud form is long, pointed ovoid.

Color.--When sepals first divide, bud color is Yellow Orange Group 21C.When half blown, the upper sides of the petals are Yellow Orange Group21B; and the lower sides of the petals are Yellow Orange Group 21C.

Sepals.--Color: Green Group 138B. Surface texture: Covered in finehairs. There are three heavily appendaged sepals. There are two sepalswith extended tips that may or may not be appendaged, but do have hairyedges.

Receptacle.--Color: Green Group 143C. Shape: Funnel. Size: Large (5/16inch by 5/16 inch). Surface: Smooth.

Peduncle.--Length: Long (4 to 41/2 inches). Surface: Prickly. Color:Medium green. Strength: Stiff, erect.

Bloom:

Size.--Medium. Average open size is 4 to 41/2 inches.

Borne.--Singly.

Stems.--Long, strong. Average length is about 24 to 28 inches.

Form.--When first open: High centered. Permanence: Retains its form tothe end, outer petals curl back, quill fashion.

Petalage.--Number of petals under normal conditions: 30.

Color.--The upper side of each petal is Yellow Orange Group 21B. Thereverse side of each petal is Yellow Orange Group 21C. The base of eachpetal has a distinctive, deep yellow (Yellow Group 12A) 1/4 inch by 1/4inch, half moon at the point of attachment. The major color on the upperside is Yellow Orange Group 21B.

Variegations.--Occasional greenish streak on the mid rib of the guardpetals.

Discoloration.--The general tonality at the end of the first day: Nochange. At the end of the third day, no change. By day 6, the colorfades to Yellow Orange Group 21C; and, on day 7, to Yellow Orange Group21D.

Fragrance.--Moderate.

Petals:

Texture.--Thick, leathery.

Shape.--Round to slightly deltoid.

Form.--Tips slightly recurved, edges slightly quilled.

Arrangement.--Imbricated, with few petaloids in the center.

Persistence.--Fall off cleanly.

Lastingness.--On the plant: 7 to 8 days. As a cut flower: 10 to 12 days.

Reproductive parts:

Anthers.--Size: Large. Quantity: Many. Color: Yellow. Arrangement:Regular around styles.

Filaments.--Color: Red.

Pollen.--Color: Gold yellow.

Styles.--Color: White.

Stigmas.--Color: Greenish white.

Form: Bush.

Growth: Very vigorous; upright; branching. Height at one year in agreenhouse will be 6 to 7 feet tall, and 3 to 4 feet wide. Plantproduces 180 to 200 stems per square meter of greenhouse.

Foliage: Number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves: 5.

Size.--Large (6 to 61/2 inches by 4 to 41/2 inches).

Quantity.--Abundant.

Color.--New foliage: Upper and lower surface: Greyed Orange 176A. Oldfoliage: Upper surface: Green Group 139A. Lower surface: Green Group138B.

Leaflets:

Shape.--Pointed oval.

Texture.--Upper side: leathery, glossy.

Edge.--Serrated.

Serration.--Single, small.

Petiole rachis.--Color: Green.

Petiole underside.--Smooth.

Stipules.--Long (3/4 inch), and narrow; bearded.

Disease resistance.--Resistant to mildew under normal greenhouse growingconditions at Somis, Calif.

Wood:

New wood.--Color: Reddish. Bark: Smooth.

Old wood.--Color: Green. Bark: Smooth.

Prickles:

Quantity.--On main canes from base: Ordinary. On laterals from maincanes: Ordinary.

Form.--Medium (3/8 inch long); hooked slightly downward.

Color when young.--Green.

Small prickles:

Quantity.--On main stalks: Few. On laterals: Few.

Color.--Green.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the hybrid teaclass, substantially as herein shown and described, characterizedparticularly as to novelty by the unique combination of its novel flowercolor; its dark green, glossy, powdery mildew resistant foliage; itslong, strong stems; its excellent petal substance, and its heavilyappendaged sepals.